As you can imagine, I spend a fair amount of time looking for unusual and futuristic stuff. Sometimes I find "brand new" objects or devices that I read about decades ago. However, I sometimes read about devices and things that are so futuristic that they must be fiction. Four such items are described below.

(They Must Be Fiction)

The Anemone Alarm Clock - Hard to wake up? This little clock not only wakes you up, it gets you up - when it goes off, it vibrates and buzzes and shakes itself across the room until you pick it up and comfort it. Sure, Frank Herbert had his cool Odalarm - the scent-based alarm clock - but the Anemone is something else.

Shirt That Gives Remote Hugs - The system works through a mobile phone network. The shirts receive the input of heart beat, touch and body temperature of the remote loved one, recreating (through actuators embedded in the shirt) over distance the pulsation, physical pressure, and warmth of a real hug. Much friendlier than Rudy Rucker's heartshirt.

Robot Dentist - this handly little device is designed to take all the fun out of dental implant work.

Refridgerator Light Never Goes Off - Mitsubishi Electric in japan has invented a refrigerator that photosynthesizes your vegetables as it runs, while also humidifying your vegetables. They stay fresher and actually gain vitamins.

Okay, readers - I'm betting that one of you has read about one of these items or seen it in an sf movie. Leave a comment below citing chapter and verse.

Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 4/25/2005)